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18 December 2007
Posted in
MyBlog
OK, Darryn and I have been having a bit of a discussion about iMovie 08 and Final Cut Express within the blog area. I wanted (through the use of state-of-the-art images...I joke!) explain what I mean about the issue related to the way of working (note - I had a habit of saying 'anology' when I should have said 'metaphor' in my last post).
There's one phrase in Darryn's reply that really struck a chord. And for me, it sums up my surprise and concern at what Apple has done....
"iMovie has about as much to do with Final Cut (Express) as tomatoe sauce has to do with a rock."
I'll come back to that comment later, but first there are some things that I want to respond to that I disagree with in Darryn's comments. Most notably, the issue of timeline use in iMovie.
Darryn commented that the timeline isn't really needed unless to edit or adjust audio. I disagree. I think that this misses the power that iMovie '06 had and the fact that there were effectively two ways of working in that application. It's obvious then that iMovie '08 brings us one main way of working (Apple have wanted to simplify) but I think it creates issues for those trying to use iMovie '08 in an advanced way or wanting to move to the more advanced FCE.
What I don't think Darryn has taken into account is the power of the iMovie timeline in '06, including non-destructive editing, as shown here...
http://www.apple.com/support/imovie/tutorial/imovieTutorial_t3.html
The interesting thing for me about that clip (ignoring the fact that I think it shows the value of the timeline) is that it talks about in and out points. Anyone using FCE will know what they are. Get it? See what is significant there? Although the way of working between the two apps isn't completely the same, the process, the concept and the terminology are the same for both iMovie and FCE. In other words, Apple has taken that metaphor across their application range.
What is even more curious about iMovie '08 is that it does have nondestructive editing that allows you to extend the length of a clip back to how you had it previously. What's really fascinating though is to watch an example of how that works. Go to http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/#imovie and select the iMovie tutorial "Trimming video". Watch very closely after the video has been trimmed to the selection, what you have to do in order to untrim or extend the length of the clip. The movie says "Click the clip duration button"...what? Did he just say "duration"? And hold on, I know the section you get taken to is called "The trimmer" and it looks kinda different, but it kinda looks like a timeline showing the length of these two clips for you to then adjust, doesn't it? Momentarily, iMovie '08 has brought back in the metaphor of a timeline (albeit it rudimentary or different way) to resolve an editing issue.
Next, when it comes to the timeline, I think Darryn's movie superbly demonstrates the similarity (and improvements) between one way of working in iMovie and the new version. But that simply isn't the only way of working previously, and certainly not one that I have seen many people use. I've met and worked with a lot of iMovie editors, from school kids to pensioners...and the fact that there have been two ways to work (clip based or timeline based editing) has been embraced by them and allowed them freedom to move and grow with the application ....freedom to develop and increase their skills within the application.
As a example, I've just got this screen shot of iMovie '06's timeline from Apple....
Now that timeline isn't anywhere near as complex as some of the ones friends have created...but many of you looking at that would think "That guy really needs to start using FCE". Here's where Darryn's comment comes in.....
"iMovie has about as much to do with Final Cut (Express) as tomatoe sauce has to do with a rock."
I don't think Darryn is wrong here. In fact, my first post wasn't an attack on either the functionality of iMovie '08 or Final Cut Express...but on their different styles of working. Apple have taken a bold step with iMovie '08, but have carried little (if anything) similar into the new version of FCE.
Why would this matter? Why does it surprise me? It surprises me because...1) I can't think of another situation where the way of working between the consumer and mid-range pro app is so vastly different with Apple products...2) it will make the transition between consumer (iMovie '08) to pro (FCE) challenging to those that want something more.
OK...so in images, let me explain what I mean. Let's start with a continuum of movie editing needs (see below). On the left, is the very basic, event clips that you might import into iMovie (Darryn's demo was a good example of this). At the other end, is the very complex editing that professional programs allow (on a side note, I'm going to ignore Final Cut Pro, not because it doesn't fit the argument, but that it just keeps things simple). I've used a continuum intentionally, as I don't believe that either our skills or needs suddenly change, but grow with the applications as we use them more.
You'll note above that in the middle of the continuum is complex edting....but not what I call "exceptionally" complex. You'll see why next. Let's look at iMovie 06 (the precursor to iMovie '08) and FCE in relation to the timeline. Time for a new graphic....
What I'm saying with the image above is that iMovie '06 allowed for users (if they wanted it or needed it) to have the ability to move from very basic event-based editing to complex (but one video-track) timelines, doing things such as non-destructive editing, multi-audio tracks or the kind of complex timeline that I showed you previously. I've been a huge fan of iMovie in this respect and know of many people who use iMovie in this way.
Even better, when the time to move beyond iMovie takes place, the transition wasn't as daunting, because most users were already doing some complex timeline editing and wanting to do something more complex. The overlapping nature of iMovie '06 and FCE was great...but please note...I'm talking about an overlap not only in some functionality, but in the ways of working.
So on to iMovie '08, which does away with the timeline way of working. I understand what Darryn says when he talks about why they have done what they did in iMovie '08. I'm not disagreeing with it, as it has made iMovie something that is very useful and fast for those wanting to organise clips. In fact, I think it is superb at that. But let's revisit the diagram I've created and now look at iMovie '08 and FCE....
This (above) is my representation of what has happened with the two products. Apple haven't carried the metaphor that was started in iMovie '08 through into FCE. In other words (and the essence of my first post about it) they've mixed metaphors....and I contend this is a very unusual move for Apple. Usually they commit to a way of working and tend to promote it or stick with it amongst their apps. Darryn is right that iMovie '08 is more like iPhoto than anything. But where I disagree with him is that I don't believe there is an obvious jump from iMovie '08 to FCE, best summed up (and something I'm concerned about) by a little red arrow in my next (and final) image....
I've loved iMovie for quite some time. I've used it far more than any other editing application because it is so easy, intuitive, fast and powerful..seriously...powerful. The ability to whip up a complex edited movie in iMovie quickly (and yes, I'm blessed by having some cool plugins to use) has been great....but now (or rather in the future) it looks like it'll have to be FCE....and I'm actually not happy with that. Not necessarily for me (in fact, I think it'll force me to learn FCE more than I have dabbled with it in the past) but for many people I know where FCE simply won't be an option.
Some web pundits have even suggested that iMovie has been 'dumbed down' by removing the fact that you can't carry out complex timeline editing and thereby forces people to consider things such as Final Cut Express. Kate MacKenzie says it well in her forum post (http://mac360.com/index.php/forums/viewthread/961)...
"What iMovie HD lacked was a way to manage video clips and projects, and an easy way to sort through clips for scenes. The new iMovie '08 takes care of that shortcoming with exactly what the old version lacked. Managing clips and movies and projects is easier in iMovie '08.
But that’s it for me. The problem is that the rest of iMovie '08 is aimed at video neophytes; those who wouldn't know a video and audio timeline from the various and sundry versions of Windows Vista (you need a scorecard or program for that effort)."
In that respect, iMovie '08 is going to be a challenge for them. Not necessarily getting to use it, but (if it stays in its current incarnation) getting to use it more...getting to use it in a complex way. There's little room to move in iMovie it seems, other than a leap across to FCE....and by the fact that the ways of working are different (and here's what my first post was about, and what Darryn's comment was about) that leap or transition is more challenging...and fairly expensive too. For a mid-range transitional application like FCE, that is a little surprising on Apple's behalf.
Now again, that's not leveling criticism to iMovie. For what it is and does, I think it's pretty cool...and I like how it organises my movies more. But what really surprises me, is that leap....that leap across to a new program for some (Final Cut Express) that when they first come across (now) there will be very few things in FCE that seem familiar. What I was trying to get at in my first post, is that I think this isn't really how Apple have worked in the past. Their mixing of metaphors have made the transition for those moving on up, more difficult....and in some cases, something that people haven't wanted and will not want to contemplate.
In short, Apple have shown that the timeline is important to them (heck, they've included it in 2 out of 3 of their editing apps) but by not including it in all 3, it's not that they have hampered the functionality of iMovie, it's that they have have decreased its flexibility and its usefulness as an application to grow with.
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